Former UCP leadership contender Brian Jean quits as Fort McMurray MLA

Fort McMurray — Brian Jean has resigned as MLA for Fort McMurray-Conklin, citing a desire to spend time with his family and rebuild his home, which was destroyed in the May 2016 wildfire.

Jean made the announcement during a Monday phone interview with Fort McMurray Today, after being dogged for months by rumours surrounding his future as a politician following his loss to Jason Kenney for United Conservative Party leadership in October.

“My wife and my family have made a lot of sacrifices for me and I would like to give back to them,” he said Monday. “I’m stepping aside because, frankly, I have to focus on my family and my life.”

Jean said he knows some people will accuse him of being a sore loser, but insists his desire to leave comes mostly from a desire to focus on his home life.

He only recently started rebuilding his Fort McMurray home.

One of his sisters also has stage 4 cancer, while two other family members are also battling the disease. The experience brought back memories of when he lost his son, Michael, in March 2015.

“I lost my son and I lost my house, and it’s been a tough few years for my family,” he said. “Being a politician is a 24-7 job. At this stage, I need to rebuild, I need to spend time with my family, I need to spend time with my friends, I need to get grounded again.”

No date for a byelection, which must be called within six months of a riding being vacated, has been set. The next provincial election is scheduled for May 2019.

No one has declared themselves as candidates, although Jean said he has heard from several residents interested in running.

Jean’s resignation comes as the UCP prepares for another byelection in Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, after MLA Don MacIntyre resigned in February. MacIntyre is facing sexual interference charged involving a child under 16.

Jean first entered politics in 2004 when he was elected a federal MP for Fort McMurray-Athabasca. He resigned in January 2014, citing a desire to focus on his personal life.

However, he returned to politics a year later after former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith and eight other MLAs joined the Progressive Conservatives in late 2014. His son was also being treated for lymphoma, and Jean said the trip through Alberta’s health-care system shocked him.

On election night, Jean led the rebuilt party to form an even larger opposition.

At first, Jean rejected uniting the Wildrose with the PCs, instead inviting any PCs interested in a unified conservative movement to join his party.

Jean eventually relented on the issue as the idea’s popularity grew among Alberta’s conservatives in both parties, especially as Kenney began touring the province pitching unity.

When the two parties did merge, tensions between Kenney and Jean flared during the leadership race. Jean insists he has no personal or professional grudges towards Kenney.

“He was chosen by 36,000 other members to lead the party. He should have the opportunity to put his vision in place and put it before Albertans,” said Jean. “I feel very proud of the direction of the party, of what we achieved with the Wildrose and very proud of the leadership race.”

In a statement, Kenney thanked Jean for his contribution to conservative politics.

The two men were once federal colleagues under former prime minister Stephen Harper, and Kenney said the conservatives are making a resurgence in Alberta thanks largely to Jean.

“All Alberta Conservatives are deeply grateful to Brian for his leadership, just as all Albertans should be grateful for his public service,” Kenney said.

Leela Aheer, like Jean, came to the UCP from the Wildrose side. She admitted Monday evening she was “a little teary” when she heard the news.

“It’s the end of an era,” she said.

Aheer, MLA for Chestermere-Rocky View, doesn’t think Jean’s departure is a sign of divisions in the caucus. When he lost his bid to lead the new party, she said, he stood aside and let the new team get on with its work.

Still, she said it’s a “huge loss” for the party.

In an email, Premier Rachel Notley thanked her former sparring partner for his commitment to public service and the people of Fort McMurray.

He took over the Wildrose Party at a difficult time, “led it ably and conducted himself in a manner that demonstrated it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable,” Notley said.

For now, Jean said he has no plans to return to life as an MP or MLA, although he does plan to remain active politically.

“Being an MLA isn’t the only way to help our province and build our party,” he said. “Never say never with politics.”

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